The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-03-17

| and of the commercial habits Of the
French people. To the statistican they
form repertory of figures from which
he can construct tables of the trading
transactions of the country, always i'm
important and valuable in history,
From the report before us for the veal
1885, we shall lay before cur readers
some of the items mentioned.
The Bank of France not only informs
its shareholders of the amount due to
Its customers, but also of the total
amountoperated through their accounts.
There were 1892 current accounts open
| at Paris and the branches, with sum
of t21, $4,000 standing to their credit
at the end of the year. Omitting the
balances due to the treasury, the fuc-
tuations of the total balance due ON
these accounts are given as regards
their limits. On the 10th of April, 1885,
the maximum amount due by the bank
was t20, 900; and the minimum
amount on the 2Sth of February was
Ell, ,556, 000-being difference of e.
74S, 900. The total operations in the
year amounted to f492, 983, 092-being
less than the operations of 1884 by
ESQ, ,65S, 1S0. The returns from the
| clearinghouse in London have revealed
the same features. While the volume
of trade as whole has not diminished,
the money values have shown per-
ceptible decrease. These effects are due
to the fall in prices in France no less
than in England. We feel curious to
know whether the operations of the
Bank of England would excel those of
its sister bank. Out of the total opera
tions already gwen, f226, 5,52O are
accounted for by the operations con-
Quoted gratuitously for the public treas
ury.
The report congratulates the share
| holders on the increase of the metallic
reserves in two years of ELS, 2,000, 900, of
which the greater part was gold. This
is not to be wondered at, seeing that
silver has fallen in value so rapidly and
to SO great an extent. When silver
was worth five shillings an ounce,
the holding of the Bank Of France was
no anxiety; but now that silver has
fallen to three shillings and ninepence
an ounce, the amount of its metallic
reserve in silver is not worth so much
by about one-fourth as the sum stated.
Thus, out of Esq, ,552. 600 gold and silver
held by the bank, a little less than half
(f43,344, ,000) was in silver. Deducting
one-fourth, the value of the silver may
beput at about f33, 100000.
There is nothing more curious in the
whole statement than the particulars of
the commercial bills and paper" dis
counted. The amount reached ESQ.,
004, S6S-made up by 11,66O.589 bills;
making an average of f32 for the bills,
with an average of nearly 80 days to
run. The large number of 1886 bills,
for f3, 58S, ,924, were refused discount
a large portion on account of irregular
tiles of form, and the remainder for
want of confidence. In Paris, alone,
5,017,90 bills, amounting to f158, 8S2,-
892, were admitted to discount; of these,
| IA, 106 bills were of the amount of s..
4d. and below; 656, $3.50 were from 9s.
3D. to f2; 919,753 were from E2, 0s
1Od. to "a; and 3,427 ,O65 were above "a.
These figures are an indication of the
trade habits of our neighbors, and show
the services rendered to the retail trade
by the chief bank. An idea of the inn
mense quantity of work connected with
these small bills, payable chiefly at the
residences of the drawees, can be gath
cred from a paragraph in the statement
giving an account of the days work on
the 31st of October. the heaviest for the
year. 1t included the manipulation of
1927 bills, representing the sum OF
1850, 769--to receive which, applica-
ton had to be made at 50, 707 dwellings.
The expense of large staffof collecting
clerks and others to perform these
duties adds a very large proportionate
cost to these documents in addition to
| the discount.
The bank makes advances on public
securities, railway securities, and other
securities. The maximum amount at
Paris was on the 18th of January,
and reached f6,508, ,O00-the minimum
on the 25th of March, reaching f5, ,348,
900. At the branches the maximum oc-
Cured on the 18th of July. and was
f6, 152, 900. The minimum was very
nearly concident with the minimum at
Paris, occurring on the 9th of March,
and amounting to f5,596.O 600. The total
operations in advances amounted to
f25, ,O5S. .804
The note circulation is gIven in am
plified detail, the statement showing the
number of notes in circulation with their
denomination, the numbers issued, can
celled, destroyed. and withdrawn during
the year. On the 28th of January, 1886,
there were Is, 139, $50 notes, amounting
to f116.050, ,539, in the hands of the
public. There are no notes issued higher
than five thousand francs (f20O each,
and there wei, only five of these in cir
culation. The note most in use was